CM seeks more funds from Centre for Wayanad disaster

Thiruvananthapuram: Centre should end its injustice and neglect towards Kerala and provide adequate financial assistance for the Mundakkai-Chooralmala disaster, said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Vijayan said the disaster at Meppadi in Wayanad occurred on July 30, 2024. "Within ten days, a central team arrived for disaster assessment. Honourable Prime Minister visited the very next day. A year and two months have passed since then. Kerala requested emergency assistance of Rs 1202.12 crore based on preliminary assessments, but no emergency aid was granted. Despite requests to waive the loans of disaster victims, central govt hasn't taken any action," he said. Additionally, Section 13 of National Disaster Management Act, which facilitates loan waivers, was removed, he added.

"Citing this amendment, central govt informed the high court that the law didn't permit loan waivers for Mundakkai-Chooralmala disaster victims. Kerala submitted its first memorandum shortly after the disaster on August 17, 2024. Along with the memorandum, a detailed report was submitted on Nov 13, 2024, after conducting a post disaster needs assessment (PDNA)," the statement said.

"During both these stages, Section 13 of Disaster Management Act was in effect. Central govt issued a gazette notification removing this section only on March 29 this year. This amendment doesn't have a retroactive effect. Nevertheless, Centre has taken a harsh and unkind stance by stating that further assistance cannot be provided," CM said in the statement.

"Centre took five months to declare the incident as a severe disaster, thereby eliminating the possibility of international aid. According to the guidelines, Rs 2,221.03 crore is needed for reconstruction assistance but only Rs 260.56 crore was sanctioned recently," he said.

"This amount does not even come close to one-eighth of our actual requirement. The rights of the state and the disaster-affected people should be protected and the necessary aid should be provided without further delay," he added.